Lifesaving device



'July 12, 1938.. J. VEENSTRA LIFEs'AvING. DEvicE Originall Filed Dec. 15, 192.6 2 Sheets-Sheet l T.. Nm EZ V6 mn E w n, d U .2. 2 OO 2 OO 0M O .0 ww

July 12, 1938@ 1, `VEENSTRA 2,123,446

LIFESAVING DEVICE Original Filed Deo. l5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 55u16 n a 293' 456 VM:, 6*1 46 46 :h pf2 f5 .ff

2 ai y INVENTOR. aa ,l Jan, )feemra TTORNE Y.

Patented July 12, 1938 Um'rr-:Dv STAT-Es eAreN'r orties LIFESAVING DEVICE John Veenstra, Detroit, Mich.

5 Claims.

My invention Vrelates to a new and useful improvement on a life saving device,` and has for its object the provision of a device which may be employed under various conditions for pre- `venting drowning. The device may be utilized as a life preserver on ship, or it may be attached to a bathing suit so that the bather, in times of emergency or danger, may resort to the device for performing the life saving` functions.`

This is a substitute for my abandoned application, `Serial Number 154,450, led December 13, 1926.

An object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism whereby, upon releasing of the same, a gas generator may be set to function for the purpose of innating a bag or other suitable receptacle, with the gas, the inated receptacle serving as .a buoyant body for retaining a person above the surface of the water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device whereby water itself serves t0y operate the mechanism so that in this manner the operation of the device becomes automatic.

Another object o the -device is the provision of a mechanism of this class which is simple in structure, economic of manufacture .and highly efficient in use, and easily and quickly operated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of this class which may be contained in compact form so that it may be easily carried upon the person without any undesirable appearance or fatigue resulting -therefrom.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

'I'he invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the casing used in the invention, showing it mounted on a fabric.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on substantially line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the mechanism released.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the invention showing the mechanism in locked position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on substantially line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on substantially line 6 6 0f Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on substantially line 'l-'I'of Fig. 4.

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention yas mounted upon the fabric I3 which may be a part of a bathing suit or the like. The invention comprises the casing I4 having the reservoir or compartment Iii formed therein, in which may be deposited water or other suitable liquid. The base of the casing Ill is provided with an opening I6 which establishes communication between the compartment l5 and the compartment Il formed in the casing I8. A flange I3 projects upwardly from the casing I8 and. serves to embrace the lower end of the casing I, a suitable gasket 23 being positioned between the bottom of the casing I4 and the top of the casing I8. The top of the casing IB is provided with the opening 2I. Hingedly connected to the cover I2 are L- shaped arms 22 and 23, cach of which is con. nected to the block 24. The casing I8 is separate from the casing I4 and when it is` mounted in position with the flange I3 embracing the lower H end of the casing It, the arms 23 may be swung into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the block 2li will .serve to engage the bottom ofthe casing I8 and retain it in position tightly pressed against the bottom of the casing Ill. Mounted on the casingl are .abutment members 25 which serve to limit the swinging of the arms` 22 and 23 in one direction. Positioned in the compartment I1 isan L-shaped tube, the base 26 of which is provided with the openings 2l and the leg 28 of which is adapted for communicating with the pipe 29, which projects from the compartment I5 and through the casing cover I2 so as to communicate with a suitable tube or other conduit 30 which is attached to a gasproof bag 3|. Slidably mounted in the compartment I5 is a valve head 32 carrying the reduced portion 33 which is adapted to project into the opening I6, a suitable gasket 33 being carried by the head 32 so that when the head 32 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, the communication `between compartment I5 and compartment Il is shut off. This head 32 is carried by a stem 34 which projects through a suitable bearing 35 mounted on the top of wall 36 of the compartment I5. An auxiliary plate 3l is mounted on this wall 33. The stem 34 carries the head 38 engaging against which, at one end, is a spring 39, the other end engaging the auxiliary plate 31 so as to normallyretain the valve head 32 in open position, as shown in Fig. 3. Projecting upwardly from the auxiliary plate 31 is a bifurcated stud 4I) between which is mounted pivotally an L-shaped member or arm 4I, the free end of which is beveled to provide the tapered end 42 which is adapted to engage the shoulder 45 formed on the arm 44 which is pivotally mounted between the bifurcations of the stud 43 which projects upwardly from the aux iliary plate 31. A rocking lever or beam 46 is mounted on a U-shaped supporting member 46 which projects upwardly from the plate 31. A notch 41 is provided in one end of the beam 46 for engaging the upper end of the arm 44 and preventing rocking of this arm on its pivot. The beam 46 is provided with an elongated slot 43 in which engages one side of a head carried by the stem 54. Carried by the leg of the U-shaped support 46 is a bracket 52, projecting outwardly from which are lugs 50 and 5I, through which is slidably projected the stem 53. The stem 54 carries at its lower end a head 1I. about the stem 54 in embracing relation so as to engage at one end the lug 5I and at the other end the head 1I is a spiral spring 55. Pivotally mountedvon the opposite leg of the U-shaped support is an L-shaped member having the leg 56'v carrying the outwardly extending boss 58, the other leg 51 being depending or extending parallel to the leg of the U-shaped support. The leg 51 carries an outwardly extending portion 31' provided with the downwardly projecting locking finger 64. A plunger 59 is slidably mounted in a sleeve 60 which is mounted on the auxiliary plate 31, this plunger 59 serving as a trigger. Projecting from the plunger 59 at its inner end is an abutment pin 6I,the inner end of the plunger 59 engaging one end of the spring 62, the other end of which engages the leg of the U-shaped support. A head 59 is mounted on the plunger, and the construction is such that the spring 62 serves normally to retain the head in outwardly pressed position. Projecting radially upwardly from the plunger 59 is an abutment member 63 which is adapted to engage, when the plunger 59 is in normal position, behind the nger 64, so as to prevent rocking of the L-shaped member embodying the legs 56 and 51.

In operation a suitable gas formingl material such as carbide may be placed in the compartment I1 and Water placed in the compartment I5. The valve head 32 will previously be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 so as to compress the spring 39. moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, its end engaging the abutment shoulder 45 which is carried by the arm 44. By engaging the upper end of the arm 44 in the recess 41` and moving the boss 58 into engagement with the under surface of the beam 46 so as to prevent its downward movement, and engaging the nger 64 with the engagement member 63, the device will be locked in position. Upon, however, moving the plunger 59 inwardly against the compression of the spring 62, the finger 64 will be disengaged from the engaging member 63, permitting the rocking of the leg 56 on its pivot, and a movement of the various parts to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus permitting the water from the compartment I5 to flow into the compartment I1. The gas ,generated will then pass through the tube 29 into the gas bag 3|. By having the gas tube 26 positioned in the chamber I1, the passage of water into the gas bag 3i will be prevented. It is .believed obvious that in emergency the person carrying the device may very easily and quickly press the plunger 59 inwardly to release the mechanism and start the generation of 75;r the gas.

Positioned The arm 4| win than be' A modiiication of the device in its operation may be provided so that it may become automatic when water reaches the device. To this end, I have mounted on the auxiliary top 31, a plate 65, projecting upwardly from which is a cylindrical member 66 having the opening 61 formed therein. It will be noted that the cover I2 is also provided with an opening so that if the device is submerged in water, the water will have access to the interior of the sleeve 66. Threaded on the upper end of the sleeve 66 is a cap 68, which is provided with an opening 69 at its center. A disc 19, made from paper, or other suitable material which will, when it becomes wet, be very easilybroken, is adapted to engage the head 1I, and hold the rod 54 in its elevated position.

YWhen the disc 10 becomes moistened, the spring 55 will be of sufficient tension to move the head 1I downwardly so as to release the mechanism and permit the iiow 0f the liquid from compartment I5 into the receptacle containing the carbide. device may be attached to children and the like who are playing near the water, or who may be travelling on board ship, so that in case 0f emergency, the life saving apparatus will automatically become eiective.

A device so constructed is one whichV is easily and quickly assembled, while it is economical to manufacture; and the efficiency of the device is believed apparent as the container I1 may carry suiiicient amount of carbide to inflate aV bag 3I of suiiicient size to serve as a buoy for a grown person.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise form of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within. the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-l ent is:

l. .A device of thev class described comprising a reservoir; a container mounted below said reservoir and communicating with said reservoir through an opening; a valve for closing and opening; a spring for normally retaining said valve in open. position; a swingably mounted lever for retaining said valve in closed position against: the tension of said spring; a releasable mechanism` for engaging said lever and latching the same in retaining position; and a trigger mechanism for releasing said latching mechanism at will.

2. A device of the class described comprising a reservoir; a container mounted below said reservoir and communicating therewith through an opening; a valve for closing said opening; a spring for retaining said valve normally in open position; a release mechanism for retaining said valve in closed position against the tension of said spring; a trigger mechanism for releasing said release mechanism; a casing for enclosing said mechanism; and means on said casing for retaining said casing, said reservoir and said container in co-operative relation.

3. A device of the class described comprising a reservoir having an opening formed in its base; a container positioned beneath said reservoir and communicating therewith through said opening; a gas conduit communicating with said container and projecting exteriorly thereof; a valve for closing said opening; a spring for normally retaining said valve in open position; aY

When constructed in this manner,Y the rockably mounted arm for retaining said valve in closed position against the tension of its spring; a swingable arm for engaging said arm and retaining it in operative position; a swingable lever for engaging the free end of said swingable arm and `retaining it in operative position; means for preventing swinging of said lever to inoperative position; and a trigger mechanism for releasing said preventing means at will.

4. A device of the class described, comprising: a casing having upper and lower compartments therein non-communicating with each other, said lower compartment having an opening formed in its bottom; a separate casing positioned in engagement with the bottom ofr said lower compartment and having an opening formed in its top registering with the opening in said lower compartment; a valve for closing communication between said separate casing and said lower compartment; a spring for normally retaining said valve in open position; a stern projecting from said Valve into said upper compartment; a releasable mechanism for retaining said valve in closed position; means for releasing said retaining mechanism; and a gas conducting conduit extending through said compartments and into said separate casing for conducting therefrom 5. A device ofthe class described, comprising: l

a casing having upper and lower compartments therein non-communicating with each other, said lower compartment having an opening formed in its bottom; a separate casing positioned in engagement with the bottom of said lower compartment and having an opening formed in its top registering with the opening in said lower compartment; a valve for closing communication between said separate casing and said lower compartment; .a spring for normally retaining said valve in open position; a stem projecting from said valve into said upper compartment; a releasable mechanism for retaining said valve in closed position; means for releasing said retaining mechanism; and a gas conducting conduit extending through said compartments and into said separate casing for conducting therefrom gases generated therein, said lower compartment being adapted for the reception of liquid; and a receptacle mounted in said separate casing for reception of material capable of producing gas upon contact with liquid, said receptacle being in communication with the interior of said separate casing;

JOHN VEENSTRA. 

